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Ed, Gilbert, Dennard and Evans are gone at 15, but one of the three tackles are still on the board. Do the Steelers take him?

1:31

Ed Bouchette:

I don't think they will draft an offensive tackle in the first round.

1:31

Comment From kjacksonpgh

Ed, with the additional 8 million coming after June 1st do you see the Steelers using some of that money to extend some of the young talent before their contracts expire or add a experienced vet ie Brett or James?

1:32

Ed Bouchette:

Some of that money will go toward paying their draft picks. I can see them extending Maurkice Pouncey and Ben Roethlisberger and perhaps signing Brett Keisel and/or James Harrison, depending on what they get out of the draft. Remember also that the cap room they have left over in '14 will be carried over to '15.

1:32

Comment From Carl

What do you foresee the starting offensive line to be this season?

1:34

Ed Bouchette:

Left to right, Kelvin Beachum, Ramon Foster, Pouncey, David DeCastro and either Mike Adams or Marcus Gilbert

1:34

Comment From Matt

GA Ed. Whats your take on the Steelers possibly trading Pouncey? Do you think they can afford him after the deal mack just got? if they would trade him when would they look to pull off the deal and what can they realistically expect to get for him?

1:34

Ed Bouchette:

I do not expect the Steelers to trade Pouncey.

1:34

Comment From David

Ed, any chance the Steelers select Aaron Donald to play DE, given that they use sub packages a majority of the time these days?

1:35

Ed Bouchette:

There's always a chance, but Donald fits better in a 4-3 defense.

1:35

Comment From Guest

Ed, If I'm a young player with the Steelers, can I actually get fundamentals coaching from my position coach this time of year, or do I have to hire a private coach?

1:35

Ed Bouchette:

Not yet, not permitted.

1:37

Comment From Touchdown Joey

Ed, do you think Munchak will be around for a few years, or is this just a short-term gig for him until a higher profile job comes along?

1:38

Ed Bouchette:

I think there is a chance he will be here at least a few years. He's never been an offensive coordinator, so the likely next step for him would be to become a head coach again. That might take a little while to happen. In the meantime, he can coach the OL in Pittsburgh.

1:38

Comment From WCoastTransplant

Given all of the Steeler's activity in the free agency market this year what action was most surprising to you?

1:39

Ed Bouchette:

Actually, I was surprised they were able to sign LeGarrette Blount. I figured he'd return to New England or someone else would snap him up for more money.

1:39

Comment From kjacksonpgh

Ed with the Browns overpaying Alex Mack does this now set a new market for negotiations for Maurkice Pouncey? Knowing the Steelers they never over pay for players, but they will offer fair market value. Your Thoughts?

Hey Ed, haven't heard much interest from the team on CB Gilbert. Do they not like him

1:42

Ed Bouchette:

Actually, you have not heard ANYTHING from the team on any draft prospects other than who has visited them. That's because they won't talk about them. Others do, and I'm sure Gilbert has to be high on their list.

1:42

Comment From Alex

Hi Ed, big follower. Do you think steve mclendon will be moved to end? I feel he lacks toughness inside

1:43

Ed Bouchette:

There is a chance. They've said that Cam Thomas projects more as an end for them, even though he played NT in San Diego. There also is a chance that McLendon stays put at NT where I would disagree with you about his toughness. Maybe he's not big enough, but I do think he's tough enough.

1:43

Comment From mikeflores16

At what point do you see them addressing the LB postions?

1:44

Ed Bouchette:

I would say you could look for that starting with their comp pick in the third round.

1:44

Comment From WCoastTransplant

Since the Steelers live continually on the edge as far as Cap money, can we assume this is because the Steeler's dead money situation is much worse than other clubs?

1:44

Ed Bouchette:

I really believe it is because they kept a championship team together. I would think as a fan you would rather have that than be a team among those with the most cap room such as the Browns.

1:46

Ed Bouchette:

The Steelers list Polamalu as 5-10, 207 and Foote as 6-1, 239. Troy is not linebacker sized.

1:46

Comment From Taz

Odds the Steelers are the ones to turn in a card at slot #15? I know they're slotted there now...

1:47

Ed Bouchette:

I am going to say 85 percent.

1:47

Comment From Guest

Ed who was better in their prime? Polamalu or Harrison or is comparing them apples and oranges?

1:48

Ed Bouchette:

Start with the fact they were both NFL defensive players of the year. Harrison made one of the great plays in Super Bowl history to help the Steelers win. Troy helped get them there. But if you're voting on one or the other for Hall of Fame, I would say TP has the edge there.

1:49

Comment From Chuck

Ed, the Steelers recently had dinner with the LSU wide receiver, Beckham. Do you think that he might be their potential first round pick instead of a player, such as Dennard??

1:49

Ed Bouchette:

I think he is in play, yes.

1:49

Comment From Alan

What's your sense about if Dennard and Beckham are there at #15? Who do you think they take?

1:50

Ed Bouchette:

They have not discussed any of this with me, you know. But if it's me, I'm going for the cornerback. i'll get my receiver later in a deep, deep draft for them.

1:50

Comment From Carl

Do you think Big Ben will make the hall of fame, or does homerism bias my view of how good Ben is?

1:51

Ed Bouchette:

I just read a thing on ESPN's Insider, which talked to a bunch of scouts and they rated Ben the fifth-most valuable QB in the league. He has a chance. Another ring would secure it.

1:51

Comment From bart

Whats up with the Steelers introducing this variable ticket pricing. Something to deflect the increase in the prices? Bottom line the tickets costs more this year than last for an 8-8 team.

1:51

Ed Bouchette:

The Steelers, without exception, have raised ticket prices every other year, whether they were 8-8, 14-2 or 5-11.

1:52

Comment From LaRueski

Good Afternoon Ed, thanks for taking the time to talk to the fans. My question is in regards to the draft. I have seen a lot of so-called “experts” predict the Steelers select Ha Ha Clinton-Dix at #15. Do you see any scenario in which that happens with Polamalu having a few years left, Thomas his potential replacement, and Mike Mitchell signing a five year deal? It just doesn’t make sense to me with them having other needs to fill.

1:53

Ed Bouchette:

I would agree with you. They remain steadfast in their statements that they take the highest-rated player with few exceptions unless they have two or more rated near dead even. However, they somehow always seem to try to fill needs.

1:53

Comment From LaRueski

Do you see Le'Veon Bell having a breakout year in 2014 (over 1,500 yards rushing and receiving)?

1:54

Ed Bouchette:

Yes, I could see that. He came on strong in the second half of last season after a foot injury slowed him in the early going.

1:54

Comment From Steve

For years the Steelers D saved the game and season. Isn't it time for the offense to be the savior now that the D is in transition?

1:55

Ed Bouchette:

The offense saved them in the Super Bowl against Arizona, if you'll recall, after the defense was shredded in the fourth quarter. I understand what you are saying, and the arrow is pointing up on offense and down on defense.

1:56

Comment From Ed

With the emphasis on the passing game, how many DB's do you see the Steelers taking in this year's draft?

1:56

Ed Bouchette:

1 or 2

1:56

Comment From Jay

Hi Ed. What do you see the carry split being between Blount and Bell? 70-30?

1:56

Ed Bouchette:

That could be a good percentage. It also depends on the flow of the game, the performance of each and provided someone does not continually tap himself on the helmet to get out of it.

1:57

Comment From LaRueski

Do you think Sean Spence will be on the 53 man roster come September?

1:57

Ed Bouchette:

That is a popular question and I cannot answer it. Neither can the Steelers. They are hopeful, but until we see him in the spring and summer camp, only then will anyone have a good idea.

1:57

Comment From Timmy

Ed, if Steelers drafted a CB at #15 overall, could you that player starting immediately or sit under Ike and Allen?

1:58

Ed Bouchette:

That would be up to the player, how quickly he takes everything in. It's been a long time since a rookie started at that position.

1:58

Comment From Guest

any guess on the release of the NFL schedule? Isn't usually about this time?

1:58

Ed Bouchette:

It sounds as though it may be next week.

1:58

Comment From Daniel

Where do the Steelers stand with the extra seating at Heinz Field? I haven't heard much about it recently...

1:59

Ed Bouchette:

They remain in negotiations with the city. It cannot happen until at least 2015.

1:59

Comment From Daniel

Do you watch the Draft on ESPN or NFL Network? Or do you attend in person?

2:00

Ed Bouchette:

We all watch from the Steelers training facility on the South Side, where there are 2 TVs in the press room. Usually, one is tuned to ESPN and the other the NFL Network. Hardly anyone goes to the TV show that is the draft in New York. All the coaches, player personnel men and virtually all of the media stay in the cities where the team's reside.

2:00

Comment From Phil

You are a journalist Ed, and a darn good one. What qualifies you to evaluate player talent?

2:01

Ed Bouchette:

The same thing that qualifies me to pick stocks. I listen to the experts.

2:02

Comment From Carl

The Steelers list Chuck Noll as an administration advisor. What exactly is his role with the Steelers? What does he do?

2:03

Ed Bouchette:

He graces that list with his name, nothing else. It is more a sign of respect by the Steelers for what Chuck Noll did for them.

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